The one thing you can’t accuse developer Polyphony Digital of doing is rushing things. It’s been four years since the last Gran Turismo game, and that was on the PlayStation 3. This is the first of the series to appear on Sony’s current console and yet it’s not even a numbered sequel. And while it is more than the extended Prologue style demo that some feared, there is still a serious issue with a lack of content. Which is frustrating, as it’s one of the only faults in what is essentially a soft reboot for the franchise.

Of course, GT Sport is going to end up being judged not only on its own merits but how it compares to Forza Motorsport 7. In a sense that’s irrelevant because they’re both first party exclusives on their own consoles, but the rivalry between the two series is clearly a point of pride for both fans and the companies themselves. Especially when Forza is going to be so important to Microsoft’s promotion of the Xbox One X.

But in many ways it’s an almost irrelevant comparison, as many of Forza Motorsport 7’s greatest strengths are GT Sport’s most notable weaknesses, and vice versa. As a result we’re almost tempted to say that both sides should just be happy to know they’ve produced a top class driving game, but the fans at least will never leave it at that.

The official line from Polyphony Digital is that this is the first in a second generation of Gran Turismo games, so there may in fact never be a Gran Turismo 7. Whether that turns out to be just marketing talk only time will tell, but the basic set-up is largely the same as always, with the main three modes being Arcade, Sports, and Campaign. Although there’s been considerable controversy over the fact that only Arcade mode can be played offline, and even then it doesn’t save your progress, but since the focus of the game is online play you’d be missing out either way.

But it’s not really the modes which are the heart of the series’ appeal, and what’s most exciting about having Gran Turismo back is the handling. As good as Forza has gotten recently, GT Sport’s driving model is still the best in the business. It’s that rarest of all things: a compromise that pleases everyone. It’s more accessible than Project CARS and the Codemasters games, and yet the feeling of weight and balance is wonderfully nuanced and appropriately different for every car. And it all works perfectly well even with an ordinary DualShock controller.

That’s something the series has always got right, but one of its long-standing flaws is its frustratingly robotic artificial intelligence. And yet despite the emphasis on online racing the computer racers are by far the most convincing they’ve ever been. Not the best in the genre by any stretch, but certainly not the embarrassment they’ve been in previous years.

In terms of graphics though there are absolutely no complaints, with exquisitely detailed cars and tracks. Although what caught our eye the most was the HDR lighting, which is probably the most effective use of the technology we’ve ever seen. But even without that this is one of the best-looking games on the PlayStation 4. Importantly though, this is also the game that finally sorts out the series’ infamously poor sound design, an improvement that is even more pronounced than the artificial intelligence.

Gran Turismo Sport (PS4) – if only it had a bit more meat on its chassis

Despite all this, GT Sport also has some very obvious failings. It has barely more than a tenth of the 1,200 cars from Gran Turismo 6, and with just 40 tracks it has less than half of what was available four years ago. There’s also no longer any dynamic day/night cycle, and only a very limited weather system.

The smaller range of vehicles means that the focus of the campaign is no longer on filling your garage with hundreds of cars, but on proving, and improving, your skills as a driver. Rather than a grind to unlock the next car the focus is on teaching and testing, with so many tutorials and options that at times it almost feels like an edutainment title. Although that’s not going to appeal to everyone and there is a lack of other more traditional single-player content.

This does at least get you ready for online play, which the game takes deadly seriously. GT Sport may be more accessible than Project CARS 2 but this is absolutely not an arcade racer. Penalties for hitting another player are ruthlessly enforced and if anything the online feels even more like a simulation than the single-player. Although online championships aren’t available at launch, which again severely limits the variety of things you can do and makes the game seem only half finished.

The PlayStation VR mode is also very limited, and still no more than a separate tech demo. Sony are promising a steady stream of updates and additions for all the content issues, but there’s no getting away from the fact that this feels like a bare bones release. But if it is only the foundations for the future of the series, then at least they seem reassuringly solid. The perfect framework, hopefully, with which to drive the franchise forward in the future.

Gran Turismo Sport

In Short: Arguably the best Gran Turismo ever in terms of the driving, and definitely in terms of the graphics, but a lack of content keeps it from getting up to top speed.

Pros: The best handling model outside of a hardcore racer and amazing graphics and attention to detail. Significant improvements to AI and sound design.

Cons: Some serious content issues, with too few online modes and a radically smaller number of cars and tracks compared to previous games. The whole game is virtually online-only.